I love Sally and I wish they had done more with her.

No infringement intended.

Sally had enjoyed living at the Old City Sanctuary. It could be boring at times. Other than Helen no one had a regular route of coming to see her just to chat.

At the New Sanctuary her world was quite busy. The merfolk pond was quite large with a few different coves as rooms. She was now raising 7 children, much to her delight. She also was now training Jessica in the art of telepathic powers. She didn't know how human telepathic people behaved or what rules they might have. So she was content to teach Jessica the merfolk way. Jessica was very eager student and also a lot of fun.

Helen had been underground for 5 days now. Sally had told Jess not to be hard on Helen. For not telling her she maybe empathic or telepathic. Helen had no proof and no way of testing her before coming underground. Jess confessed before her training session that she had given Helen a loving ear full. But had also forgiven her, because Sally was right.

"So am I in trouble? You're not going to make me swim into the corner?" Jess flashed a class room where children were sent to the corner as a punishment.

Sally laughed, "No, besides I don't think you're in the right condition for us to start driving lessons."

"Good," Jess was sitting on the water's edge with her feet in the water. "What is my lesson today, oh great one?"

Sally slashed her a little. "Behave! Today, we start rules merfolk live by. But you will probably have to adapt some of them. 1. You never force your way into someone's mind. It is very wrong and dangerous."

"Wrong, I understand. Dangerous, to who and how?"

Sally pulled herself up on a lip on the edge on the pond, which let her head and shoulder be above the water. "The person you are entering can be traumatized and it can cause physical harm. For someone like me it would be a crime or sin."

"Ahh, with great power comes great responsibility."

"Correct! A person's mind has many coves, cracks and hiding spots. Each one can hold a different memory or emotion. To just move into one it can..." Sally paused trying to figure out how to explain it.

"I think I understand. It makes sense now." Sally looked at her. "For me it's like walking up to a house. There are rooms that are open, but then there are hallways filled with doors." Jess sent images of her own farm house and how she had kicked in a door once. "I was locked out of a room, in my house. I was very angry, and I kicked it in."

"You felt bad for having to do that?"

"It needed to be done but yes, I didn't like doing it."

Even thou Sally's words were only in Jess' head. It was as if she whispered. "What is Helen's mind like for you?"

"Is this a test?"

"No, but if you wish. I will ask what your Mate's mind is like?"

Jess smiled, "It's soft, like a Yurt or Tee Pee (Jess sent her the images). It's warm and safe."

"Have you ever looked around for a secret or found something dark?"

"NO, Never!"

"The thought makes you upset?"

"Yes. Some secrets are good and some are bad. Sometimes I think things, that I would Never say out loud."

"Good, that is number 2. People will think things, they don't mean. It just pops in their head. It takes the extra action to say it out loud. Then if they speak it, you can be upset. Should it be unkind."

"Good rule! By the way, I haven't gone looking around in Helen's mind. She used to have nightmares on the farm. If something scares her that bad. I don't want to go poking around there."

Sally laughed and slide down into the water. She disappeared for a moment and then was back. "Sorry, the girls were being restless."

"You know I am a master at coming up with games to teach and entertain. If you want I'll come up with a few and you can pick, what you like." Jess smiled her heart full of joy at the thought of being helpful.

"That would be wonderful, but back to your lesson. Before your brain gets distracted (she point at Jess) like that. Now focus."

Jess shook her head and took a breath, "Ok, I'm ready. One more rule please."

"Alright last one for today. Number 3. You need to learn to shield yourself. This can be very hard to do when: you are tired, in pain, scared, during passion, or when others are projecting because they are feeling these things."

"Will these powers get stronger? Or is it stronger with some people I love?"

Sally grabbed Jess' leg. She sent images of Ashely, but they were more than images. "I'll show you more if you're ready?"

Jess to a deep breath "Yes, but go slow. I don't want to pass out here." Sally giggled, but this time Jess felt it to her bones.

-In Sally's Head-

Jess felt as if she was walking in Sally's habitat at Old City. She wasn't wet, but Sally was swimming beside her. "Here, I have brought you into my cove. Watch." Sally pointed to the lab or rotunda. Jess wasn't sure what they called it.

Helen was working on something. An 11 yr old Ashley came skating in like it was a roller derby. "Ashley! What have I told you about those skates?" "Hum, not to skate in the halls. And I'm not, I down her." She flash her mom a smile. "I thought you and Henry were working on something for you school fair?" "We are, look." Ashley held up something that looked like a paintball gun. "A gun?" "No mom, well not really. It's a gun that shoots a really foul smelling ball at a bad guy. That does Not wash off easy. So if the cops or we need to tag somethings to find later. Hit them with this and let the bloodhounds go." Ashley said with pride. Helen looked worried point the gun at the floor, instead of up. "What is it filled with now?" "Geez mom, don't worry. We are only using damp garlic powder balls. I don't want Henry smelling any worse than he already does."

"That's why our Big friend couldn't find any garlic for last night's dinner." "Oh right, we might have used it all up. Oh and I'll need more for the fair." A crackle came over Ashley's radio. A slightly Gaelic voice asked, "Give up Ash?" "Never geek boy, your butt is toast!" Ashley took off, Helen looked like she was going to say something. But just smiled and shook her head.

Sally put her hand on Jess' shoulder, "Close your eyes. Alright now open them." Sally was holding Jess by both knees to steady her. They were back in the real world.

"Whoa, that was so COOL!" Jess felt another ice cream headache coming on. She always did when she was using her powers deeply. "Please tell me these little headaches won't always happen?"

"No Friend, it's all so knew. Your brain still needs to get a custom to traveling these new pathways."

"Like a road of trail. The more I use them the smoother and easier it will be to use?"

"Yes. Tell me, I'm curious. When you first talked with Coal, did it hurt? Like just now?"

Jess thought back, "No actually, but I didn't think I had powers back then. I thought it was him talking to me. I just said hello and I think I asked how they were."

"Then that is your answer. You were relaxed. You simple opened your mind and waited to hear him speak. Slow down and don't be in a hurry."

"That's not always easy around Ashley."

"That is because you are desperate to catch before she falls. You know she's terrified of changing and hurting someone. So you try to react as fast as you can. I'm not sure how to help you with that."

"Me either," Jess' brain flash the thought of 'I know I'm not going to stop anytime soon.' Jess made a face.

"Rule 2, remember." Sally smiled and let go of Jess. "I think that is more than enough for today."

"I'm always so tired after."

"Next time we will work on rule 3 and how to share a memoire."

"Thanks Sally. "Jess stood up and rolled her pants legs down. "Wait you never answered my question!"

"Didn't I," Sally smirked and swam backwards. "Perhaps it's because I truly don't know. I would guess anyone you're deeply connected to would be easier to find and read." Sally disappeared below the water.

"Wait find?" Sally had severed the connection. "Bugger!" There was one final splash of water. "See I knew you were still listening."